The Section 8 Waiting List in Pennsylvania

It is important to review information about Section 8 waiting lists in Pennsylvania if you have recently applied for rental assistance benefits through a local Public Housing Authority. You should learn how to check waiting list status for Section 8 when you apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program because most PHAs have extensive waiting lists for eligible applicants. Each low income housing waiting list monitored by a PHA may have different wait times and local preferences, which could allow you to move higher on the list. A Section 8 housing program application waiting list at the PHA must be open and accepting applications for you to be placed on it. As a potential applicant, you should review the Pennsylvania Section 8 housing waiting list 2018 to see which PHAs have open waiting lists and which have closed their waiting lists due to too many eligible applicants. You may wonder when will the Section 8 waiting lists open if you have discovered many PHAs with closed lists. When a PA Section 8 waiting list opens, the PHA is required to alert the public so they can begin applying for program benefits. To learn how to check waiting list status for Section 8 in Pennsylvania, find out more about waiting lists in the area and review how to get on a list, read through the sections below.

Information About Section 8 Waiting Lists in Pennsylvania

It is common for a PHA to have a long low income housing waiting list in Pennsylvania because many eligible applicants need financial assistance for rentals in the community. A PHA will create a Section 8 housing program application waiting list when the demand for Housing Choice Voucher program benefits becomes higher than the HUD funding received for the program. You may want to check waiting list status for Section 8 in PA before applying, as some PHAs have long waiting lists that cannot provide benefits to eligible applicants without local preferences for several years.

If you are looking for information about Section 8 waiting lists including the estimated wait time and whether the list is open or closed, then you must contact the PHA. Often, you can check Section 8 waiting list status on the respective PHA's website to learn if and when the housing authority is currently taking new HCV program applicants. If you discover a Section 8 housing waiting list 2018 that is closed and not currently accepting new applicants, then you should find out when it plans to reopen or check the status at other locate PHAs. If you are wondering when will the Section 8 waiting lists open, then you may need to contact the specific PHA to ask if the list will become active anytime soon. If there is an open low income housing waiting list in PA with a lengthy wait time, then you should consult with a PHA representative to see if you meet any local preferences to place you higher on the list.

How to Get on the Low Income Housing Waiting List in Pennsylvania

When you have located a PHA with an open Section 8 housing program application waiting list in Pennsylvania, you must complete the application process to be placed on the list. To be selected for the Section 8 waiting list with specific PHAs, you may first be required to complete a pre-application to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. The pre-application also provides the PHA representative with important information to determine if you meet a local preference, which may indicate where you will be placed on the waiting list.

The PHA places applicants who meet the Section 8 eligibility requirements on the low income housing waiting list and those who meet local preferences are positioned higher on the list and will receive benefits more quickly than applicants who do not meet these criteria. Local Section 8 waiting list preferences may vary between PHAs, but often include households that pay extremely high rent with low income, homeless families or residents who have been involuntarily misplaced.

How to Check Waiting List Status for Section 8 in Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania Section 8 waiting list closes when a set number of eligible applicants have applied for program benefits. Each PHA has different Section 8 waiting list criteria and closes the list when the maximum number of qualified applicants is reached. To learn more information about Section 8 waiting lists for a specific PHA, you may need to contact the housing authority directly. When inquiring about the low income housing waiting list, you should ask the PHA representative:

If the Section 8 waiting list is open and accepting applications.

What the current estimated wait time on the list.

What are the local preferences observed by the PHA.

If the Section 8 housing waiting list 2018 is closed and not accepting new applicants, then you should also ask the PHA representative when he or she thinks the list will open. Learning when will the Section 8 waiting lists open can be helpful if you desire a rental in a specific location. Sometimes, you cannot check waiting list status for Section 8 in PA because PHA representatives cannot offer an estimated time that they believe lists will open. However, information about Section 8 waiting lists and the resources a PHA uses to advertise the opening of a waiting list may help you learn about the list opening.

What Is the Housing and Urban Development Department?

The Housing and Urban Development Department provides a variety of assistance programs to help you realize your dream of homeownership. The HUD also offers housing assistance in the form of Section 8 benefits to low-income families interested in renting. Find out how you can own or rent a home with government assistance by downloading our comprehensive housing guide.

How Can I Apply for Assistance Through the Housing and Urban Development Department?

In order to obtain housing benefits, you must submit an assistance form via an approved application method in Pennsylvania. Additionally, certain housing programs like Section 8 require further considerations, such as ensuring there are open spots on the state’s housing waiting list. To learn the easiest ways to apply for housing benefits, and to determine your eligibility for housing programs in GA, download our guide.